Martin Luther, the chief
catalyst of Protestantism, defies the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V by refusing
to recant his writings. He had been called to Worms, Germany, to appear before
the Diet (assembly) of the Holy Roman Empire and answer charges of heresy.

Martin Luther was a
professor of biblical interpretation at the University of Wittenberg in
Germany. In 1517, he drew up his 95 theses condemning the Catholic Church for
its corrupt practice of selling “indulgences,” or forgiveness of sins. Luther
followed up the revolutionary work with equally controversial and
groundbreaking theological works, and his fiery words set off religious
reformers across Europe. In 1521, the pope excommunicated him, and he was
called to appear before the emperor at the Diet of Worms to defend his beliefs.
Refusing to recant or rescind his positions, Luther was declared an outlaw and
a heretic. Powerful German princes protected him, however, and by his death in
1546 his ideas had significantly altered the course of Western thought.